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Chad Kuhl was just happy his team got the win. His manager was thrilled that his right-hander got the credit for it.

Kuhl pitched six solid innings to win for the first time since May 6 Eric Berry Jersey , a span of seven starts, and the Pittsburgh Pirates edged the Cincinnati Reds and Matt Harvey 3-2 on Friday night.

The Pirates’ last back-to-back wins came on May 16-17 against San Diego, which pushed them a season-high nine games over .500 at 26-17. They have gone 8-18 since and lost eight straight series.

”It was good for the team to open up the series with a win and hopefully we can win this series (Saturday),” Kuhl said.

Kuhl (5-4) gave up two runs, one earned, and six hits while striking out six and walking three. He allowed no more than three runs in any of his previous four outings.

”People who say wins are not important for pitchers are people who don’t pitch,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. ”There is value to it. Everybody likes a pat on the back. Everybody likes a reward. I don’t think that’s ever going to change in sport. If it does, then it will be time for me to get out.”

The Pirates pulled ahead 3-2 in the sixth on consecutive sacrifice flies by Starling Marte and Colin Moran off reliever Michael Lorenzen. The runs were charged to Harvey (1-5), who was lifted after giving up back-to-back singles to pinch-hitter Elias Diaz and Josh Harrison to start the inning.

Harvey allowed three runs on four hits with two strikeouts and two walks. The former New York Mets ace is 1-3 with a 5.09 ERA in seven starts since being traded to Cincinnati on May 8 after being designated for assignment.

Wandy Peralta relieved Harvey and hit Corey Dickerson, the only batter he faced, with a pitch. That left the bases loaded with none out for Lorenzen.

”I’m just frustrated about the whole outing,” Harvey said. ”It was kind of a struggle the whole time. To have the lead going into the sixth inning and letting two guys get home is unacceptable and something I’m (upset) about.”

Felipe Vazquez held on in the ninth for his 13th save in 17 opportunities. Tucker Barnhart singled with two outs and pinch-runner Billy Hamilton stole second base before Joey Votto struck out swinging.

A sacrifice fly by Scooter Gennett in the third inning drew the Reds into a 1-1 tie and they went ahead in the fourth Garrett Grayson Jersey , scoring a run on a throwing error by Kuhl.

”I couldn’t believe it. I was in shock when I threw the ball away,” Kuhl of the first error of his three-year career. ”I kind of went behind the mound and reset.”

Pittsburgh scored the game’s first run when Gregory Polanco grounded into a double play in the second inning.

The Reds lost despite outhitting the Pirates 7-5. They were 0 for 11 with runners in scoring position and stranded 10 baserunners.

Cincinnati’s Jose Peraza had two hits.

KANG OFF RESTRICTED LIST

Pirates infielder Jung Ho Kang has been reinstated from the restricted list and optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis after missing last season and the first part of this year because of visa issues.

The 31-year-old Kang was unable to secure a work visa to travel from his native South Korea to the United States after he was arrested for DUI for a third time in December 2016 in Seoul. He received an eight-month suspended prison sentence.

The move is procedural, so Kang can begin drawing the prorated portion of his $3 million salary. He has already played in 11 minor league games. He was cleared to travel to the U.S. on April 27.

PIRATES SIGN TOP PICK

The Pirates signed South Alabama outfielder Travis Swaggerty, the 10th overall pick in last week’s amateur draft, to a contract with a $4.4 million bonus and assigned him to short season Class A West Virginia. He hit .296 with 13 home runs and a .455 on-base percentage in 57 games this year.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Reds: RHP Homer Bailey (right knee inflammation) stopped his rehab assignment at Triple-A Louisville. On the disabled list since May 30, Bailey made one start for Louisville and was tagged for five runs in three innings Monday.

Reds: Luis Castillo (4-7, 5.79 ERA) has lost his last three starts with a 7.47 ERA.

Pirates: RHP Ivan Nova (3-5, 4.68) beat the Cubs at Chicago last Sunday in his return from the DL, allowing one run in 5 2/3 innings after being out with a sprained right ring finger. He is 3-7 lifetime against Cincinnati.

Sean Doolittle was just trying to snuff the fires of a Twitter fight between his Oakland Athletics and the band Smash Mouth.

Members of the band from the Bay Area called the A’s a joke for trading Coco Crisp in 2016, and a heated argument ensued that the then-Oakland reliever got in the middle of.

”I was trying to calm the situation down by tweeting sentences using titles of their songs,” Doolittle said. ”It didn’t really work. They were at each other’s throats.”

After tweeting : ”Hey hey guys cmon. Why Can’t We Be Friends? last year was rough but I’m A Believer,” Doolittle figured what’s the use in trying. But he picked up support from lead singer Steve Harwell and bass player Paul De Lisle strong enough that Doolittle and his wife developed an online connection with Smash Mouth over the past two years.

Yep, what a concept. Since then, Smash Mouth has had a role in Doolittle and wife Eireann Dolan getting engaged, offered to play at their wedding and this month helped celebrate the Washington Nationals closer’s second All-Star appearance.

”When this happened, Eireann was like, `Maybe every major event that happens in our lives, we need to find a way to celebrate it with Smash Mouth,”’ Doolittle said.

Smash Mouth’s ”All-Star” has been a sports anthem since it became a hit in 1999, but not many athletes can say the band has told them, ”Hey now you’re an All-Star” like Doolittle. Because of a toe injury, Doolittle couldn’t get his game on and go play in the All-Star Game on Tuesday night, but he and his wife can count this as another Smash Mouth milestone in their lives.

The last time came shortly after the couple got engaged in February 2017. Someone from Smash Mouth interjected into a Twitter conversation between Dolan and a friend and told Doolittle don’t delay Andre Reed Jersey , act now, prodding him about getting a ring and proposing.

Knowing all that glitters is gold, he already had. They were waiting to tell family and friends before announcing it, and suddenly it looked like Smash Mouth was responsible for the engagement.

”That’s exactly what happened,” Doolittle said. ”A few hours later we did tweet out an announcement or something that we had got engaged and a bunch of people caught on and they were like, `Oh my gosh Smash Mouth finally convinced Sean to propose to Eireann.”’

Part of the band’s pitch to Doolittle was an offer to play at the wedding reception. He’s still not sure if it was a joke or not, saying, ”Maybe we should have taken them up on it.”

”We did?” De Lisle said. ”Let’s just set up in front of the bullpen.”

When Doolittle was named to the NL All-Star team, he tweeted at Smash Mouth and, with the help of Dolan, finally got the band to declare , ”Hey Now You’re An All-Star.” When the song plays over the speakers at Doolittle’s home park Joe Thuney Jersey , he won’t be the only one singing along, but he and his wife listen knowing Smash Mouth has a special place in their lives.

”It’s one of those kind of beautiful things that can only happen on social media,” Doolittle said. ”I’m glad we got to have some fun with it.”

Harwell and De Lisle had some more fun on Twitter asking when Doolittle will be a free agent and said they want him to sign with the San Francisco Giants – and bring Bryce Harper with him.

”Every pitch he throws is like the last out in the World Series,” De Lisle said. ”I love the way that dude pitches. He’s a total rock star.”

Doolittle is signed through 2021, so for now, Smash Mouth will have to settle for being fans of him and Dolan in Washington.

”We love them and would do anything for them,” Harwell said. ”They are some cool people we consider friends.”